The articles of the faith of the Church of Christ

This Author which I have lately met with, distinguisheth well between Legal Guilt and Gospel Guilt; the first obliging to Divine Wrath, or eternal Punishment; the latter, i. e. Gospel Guilt, obliging to Gospel, or Fatherly Chastisement for Gospel-Sins.¹ Now I see not but that as soon as a Believer is personally justified, all his Sins, tho not yet committed, as to legal Guilt, or vindictive Wrath, i. e. that Guilt that obliges to eternal Condemnation, are pardoned, for the reason before.

1. 1Dr. Ames saith, that not only the Sins of a justif••• Person that are past are remitted, but also in some sort these to come, Num. 23.25. Joh. 5.24. yet he distinguishes between a formal and virtual Pardon: Sins past, says he, are remitted to themselves, Sins to come, in the Subject or Person sinning.

Saith he, Virtual Pardon: keeps off Legal Guilt where it would be. To which I reply, if it be kept-off, so ⟨p. 39⟩that it never comes upon Believers, then it follows they were actually pardoned before in that respect: yet he says, Sins cannot be said to be formally pardoned before formally committed; but says, no Guilt can come upon them to Condemnation, tho new Guilt; yet no new legal Guilt, because always justified. We see no hurt if his Terms be admitted.

Saith he, Virtual Pardon: keeps off Legal Guilt where it would be. To which I reply, if it be kept-off, so ⟨p. 39⟩that it never comes upon Believers, then it follows they were actually pardon'd before in that respect: yet he says, Sins cannot be said to be formally pardon'd before formally committed; but says, no Guilt can come upon them to Condemnation, tho new Guilt; yet no new legal Guilt, because always justified. We see no hurt if his Terms be admitted.